Your New Body Blog.com | A Cosmetic Surgery Blog Presented by PlasticSurgery.com

Plastic surgery has been a hot topic on many different television networks, featuring past and present television shows such as “Extreme Makeover,” “The Swan,” “I Want a Famous Face,” “Dr. 90210,” “Plastic Surgery: Before & After,” “Nip/Tuck” “Miami Slice,” and the list goes on.

The direct result of plastic surgery doctors and patients receiving more air time – both in fictionalized dramas and reality television series – shows a heightened awareness of, and interest in cosmetic surgery. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), about four out of five of patients indicated that television directly influenced their decision to undergo cosmetic surgery.

The interplay between televised depictions of cosmetic surgery and real life plastic surgery has a number of impacts. Most significantly, the high visibility of cosmetic surgery has somewhat transformed the public opinion of elective plastic surgery. Once viewed as an elitist indulgence reserved for the super-wealthy and pathologically vain, cosmetic work is now being seen as a more populist solution for crafting physical appearances. The process of cosmetic work has also been significantly demystified; by taking viewers behind the scenes and into the operating rooms, they are able to establish a foundation for their expectations, rather than assuming the worst.

But many practicing plastic surgeons worry that patient expectations have not yet reached parity with reality. Dr. John Persing, a member of the ASPS, warned that TV shows—even those touted as “reality television”—may create “unrealistic, unhealthy expectations about what plastic surgery can do for you.” Many times, procedures that are depicted on television deliver less dramatic results and carry higher risks than is revealed to viewers.

With this trend on the rise, a greater burden of responsibility has been placed on practicing cosmetic surgeons to properly educate prospective patients. These best practices are emerging effectively in areas where cosmetic procedures are most popular, such as Orange County. Plastic surgery, including breast augmentation and even minimally invasive injections, are prefaced with numerous consultations that help patients better understand the risks and results. For example, Dr. Andres Talesnik, a Newport Beach liposuction and facial beauty specialist, offers free consultations to all new patients to ensure that they have a realistic understanding of the procedure before moving forward. In this way, plastic surgeons can help patients reconcile the reality of plastic surgery with what they see on TV.